YEMEN - IHP CONTINUES URGENT APPEAL FOR MEDICINES

By IHP, Dec 20 2016 11:56AM

As the conflict in Yemen continues well into its nineteenth month, the humanitarian crisis worsens. IHP is renewing its call to donors to give much needed medicines to the millions that are affected.

According to the United Nations only 45% of health facilities are functioning and many of them face severe medicines, staff and equipment shortages. More than eight million people are underserved. A staggering 18.8 million people, out of a population of 26 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 10.3 million in acute need. Malnutrition has soared by 60% in the last year. Almost half a million children under five are malnourished.

“The conflict has caused a serious healthcare crisis. It’s the women and children who are most affected,” says Louise Hart, IHP’s Associate Director of Programmes, “They are dying because of lack of food and lack of access to health facilities and medicines,” she continues.

The list of medicines range from antibiotics and painkillers to Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to combat diseases such as cholera which has gripped much of Yemen.